Tape suspended balance

ABSTRACT

A balance comprises a beam centered about and suspended from a flexible tape, the tape being flexible in a direction along the length of the beam but being much less flexible in a direction at right angles to the length of the beam.

United States Patent Walters 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] TAPE SUSPENDED BALANCE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: John Walters, Lexington, Mass. 987,404 4/1951 France l77/DlG. 9 [73] Assigneez American science & Engineering 1,036,177 7/ 1964 Great Bntam ..177/DlG. 9

Cambridge Mass Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward, .11.

[22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1970 Attorney-Charles Hieken [21] Appl. No.: 97,170 [57] ABSTRACT I A balance comprises a beam centered about and [52] US. Cl ..177/196, 177/263, 177/DlG. 9 Suspended from a flexible tape, the tape being flexible ll). in a direcion along the length of the beam but being [58]- Fleld of Search "177/ 193-1965 much less flexible in a direction at right angles to the 177/225, 229, 263, 264 length ofthe beam [56] References Cited 2 Claims, 1 Figure UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1881 Abbott ..l77/DIG. 9

PATENTEDSEP 1912 3.888.855

INVENTOR JOHN WALTERS A! IUHNI Y BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to an inexpensive balance characterized by a relatively high degree of precision that is rugged enough for use by school children and easy to use. A balance according to the invention is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, relatively easy to use by inexperienced school children and yet provides a high degree of accuracy.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an inexpensive precision balance suitable for use by young school children.

It is a further object of the invention to achieve the preceding object with a relatively simple rugged structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is a beam supported by tape that is flexible in a direction along the length of the beam while being much less flexible in a direction at right angles to the length of the beam. Pan means are supported at opposite ends of the beam by tape means having similar characteristics. Preferably the pan means are alike and equidistant from the midpoint of the beam which midpoint is embraced by the cross sectional area of the tape means that supports the beam.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single FIGURE of which BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the beam below the supporting tape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS less flexible and nearly rigid in a direction at right angles to the length. For example, tapes l2, l6 and 17 may be made of thin metal, such as phosphor bronze, or numerous available plastics.

Base 11 could be of almost any form. The specific means for affixing tapes l6 and 17 to the pans could take various forms.

Altemately, pans 21 and 22 and beam 13 could be each suspended from a pair of spaced strings that would still help reduce torsion.

It is apparent that those skilled in the art may now make numerous other uses and modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novel feature and novel combmation of features present in or possessed by the apparatus and techniques herein disclosed and limited solely by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A tape suspended balance comprising, a beam, a tape of width corresponding substantially to that of said beam, said tape supporting said beam intermediate its ends along substantially the entire width thereof with the plane of said tape perpendicular to the length of said beam and being flexible in a direction along the length of said beam, said tape being much less flexible along a direction orthogonal to than along said direction along the length of said beam, and base means for supporting the end of said tape away from the end thereof supporting said beam along substantially the entire width thereof. 2. A .tape suspended balance in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising,

pan means at opposite ends of said beam supported by respective pan tapes of widths corresponding substantially to that of said beam and said firstmentioned tape characterized by flexibility in a direction along the length of said beam, said pan tapes being attached to said beam along substantially the entire width thereof with the planes of said pan tapes parallel to that of said first-mentioned tape, said pan tapes being much less flexible along a direction orthogonal to than along said direction along the length of said beam. 

1. A tape suspended balance comprising, A BEAM, A TAPE OF WIDTH CORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THAT OF SAID BEAM, SAID TAPE SUPPORTING SAID BEAM INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH THEREOF WITH THE PLANE OF SAID TAPE PERPENDICULAR TO THE LENGTH OF SAID BEAM AND BEING FLEXIBLE IN A DIRECTION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID BEAM, SAID TAPE BEING MUCH LESS FLEXIBLE ALONG A DIRECTION ORTHOGONAL TO THAN ALONG SAID DIRECTION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID BEAM, AND BASE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE END OF SAID TAPE AWAY FROM THE END THEREOF SUPPORTING SAID BEAM ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE WIDTH THEREOF.
 2. A tape suspended balance in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, pan means at opposite ends of said beam supported by respective pan tapes of widths corresponding substantially to that of said beam and said first-mentioned tape characterized by flexibility in a direction along the length of said beam, said pan tapes being attached to said beam along substantially the entire width thereof with the planes of said pan tapes parallel to that of said first-mentioned tape, said pan tapes being much less flexible along a direction orthogonal to than along said direction along the length of said beam. 